Gullit, who helped spearhead the modern Stamford Bridge revolution, told Telegraph Sport that Torres only got in the team at all because he cost a record £50 million and that he would be on the bench or sold were he to have been signed for £10 million.

Former Holland star Gullit has been one of Torres’s fiercest critics, suggesting last year it felt like Chelsea were “playing with 10 men” with the Spaniard on the pitch.

Benitez’s appointment as interim manager following Di Matteo’s November sacking was meant to revitalise Torres but the 28-year-old has scored only once in 13 games since Christmas.

An impassioned Gullit said: “Do you think he did something to change my mind?